Posted at: 08/07/2012 7:01 PM
By: Katie Eldred

Print Story  Email to a Friend

Students Farming the Old Fashioned Way

(ABC 6 News) -- It’s a farm that mixes new technology with an old fashion life style. Dream Acres farm in Wykoff is a completely organic farm that runs off of sustainable energy.

Each year Dream Acres holds Flourish summer camp to teach students the power of nature and creativity.

At the farm the fields are plowed by oxen, the buildings are timber framed, and all the food served on the table comes straight from the back yard.

"We grow vegetables primarily, but we do have orchards, nuts, we have honey," said farm manager Eva Barr.

But the farm is also full state of the art technology. It's the first completely solar powered kitchen in Minnesota. The well is powered by the sun as well, and the rest of the water comes from rain barrels.

On Tuesday, the farm was hosting children from across the state teaching them about sustainable living.

Camper Willa Bartholomay is from Minneapolis.

"I love to pick my own food, because then later at dinner we get to eat it so it feels super good," said Bartholomay.

But that's just half the equation.

"To create a more peaceful world and a more environmental responsible world, we have to be creative thinkers," said Barr.

So while the campers spend part of their day learning about gardening and working on the farm, they spend the other part of the day practicing performance art.

"Seed to harvest is the concept, you have to have a seed of an idea and then by the end of the week you harvest the performance," said camp mentor William Harris.

At the end of the camp the students perform their acts for their parents and friends.

"Art and farming go hand in hand, because it's something you have to cultivate," said Harris.

Flourish summer camp runs through Saturday. On august 25th Dream Acres is holding their annual Onion Fest which features live music and of course onions.